Just as Yuan Xi and Guo Jia were widening their eyes, watching how Sun Ce would react outside the city, the unexpected happened.
Sun Ce's army was engaged in battle outside the city.
Initially, Yuan Xi was inspecting the city walls when he saw billowing smoke and earth on the back side, and earth-shattering shouts of battle. He thought it was Sun Ce's feigned retreat, but after he and Taishi Ci observed with telescopes for a while, they finally confirmed it was a real fight.
The other side of the battle consisted of about several hundred people, bearing the banners of Liu Bei's army, with a large flag at the head bearing the prominent character 'Guan'.
In front of the flag, a man rode a tall horse, wielding a twelve-foot blade, which flashed with cold light as he brandished it, galloping and charging left and right within Sun Ce's formation.
It was none other than Guan Yu!
Han Dang and Zhou Tai both stepped forward, Han Dang wielding a long spear and Zhou Tai a steel spear. The two long weapons danced around Guan Yu, but he blocked them all.
Seeing that he could not defeat Guan Yu after dozens of exchanges, Han Dang quickly shielded his spear, galloped out a dozen steps, placed the spear on his saddle, and took out the longbow from his back, turning to fire an arrow.
Guan Yu was already prepared. After being shot by Taishi Ci in Qingzhou, he became extremely wary of such tactics. Seeing that Han Dang dared to attack him to his face, he shouted, "How dare you, you rat!"
He faced Han Dang, retreating instead of advancing, dodging the arrow sideways, then turned his horse and charged straight at Han Dang. Zhou Tai was originally entangled with Guan Yu, but he didn't expect Guan Yu to turn his horse, causing Zhou Tai to miss and pass by.
By the time Zhou Tai desperately turned his horse around, he was already several yards away from Guan Yu!
Before Han Dang could fire his second arrow, he saw Guan Yu had already caught up. Greatly alarmed, he hurriedly used his bow to block, but Guan Yu slashed it in half with a flash of his blade.
Han Dang hurriedly reached for the spear on his saddle, but how could Guan Yu let him have his way? Taking advantage of the fact that Han Dang had not yet grabbed the spear shaft, he gently flicked the tail of the spear with his Green Dragon Blade, knocking it to the ground.
Seeing that Han Dang was empty-handed, Guan Yu's arm shook, and he slashed the back of his blade towards Han Dang's head!
Han Dang was shocked and hurriedly lowered his head, the Green Dragon Blade striking his helmet, creating a trail of sparks.
Han Dang's head suffered a heavy blow, and he felt dizzy and could not see anything clearly. Knowing that this was a matter of life and death, he quickly tugged the reins and fled towards his own formation.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Zhou Tai had only just turned his horse around to chase, barely a horse's length behind Guan Yu. Seeing Han Dang's life in danger, he didn't say a word, and thrust his steel spear straight at Guan Yu's back like a fiery arrow!
But he did not expect that Guan Yu had already heard the wind behind his head. He twisted his body, letting the steel spear pass, then grabbed the back end of the Green Dragon Blade's handle, leaned back, and swung the blade in a large half-circle from the ground, slamming it back at Zhou Tai!
Taishi Ci saw this from the city wall and exclaimed, "Dragging Blade Technique!"
Zhou Tai was caught off guard. Seeing that he could not stop his horse, his head was about to crash straight into the blade. Even if he avoided his head, the Green Dragon Blade would still cut his shoulder!
But he couldn't care less at this point. He gritted his teeth, raised his steel spear horizontally, trying to block the Green Dragon Blade.
When the blade and spear shaft collided, the difference between the two forces was immediately apparent.
Zhou Tai's steel spear was a hasty block, while Guan Yu's Green Dragon Blade was a prepared attack, using the strength of his entire waist and abdomen. The difference between them was more than double!
The moment the two weapons collided, the spear shaft was knocked aside, and the Green Dragon Blade fell, slashing heavily on Zhou Tai's back!
Zhou Tai spat out blood with a 'wah' sound from the heavy blow, his body swaying.
Seeing this, Han Dang, who was fleeing in front, had no choice but to draw his ring-pommel saber from his waist and turn back to charge. His short weapon was up against Guan Yu's long weapon. After several exchanges, he could no longer hold on.
Zhou Tai took the opportunity to escape and recover his breath. After being injured, his bloodlust was aroused, and he also drew his ring-pommel saber, charging desperately to fight Guan Yu in close combat.
Two short sabers against one long blade, Han Dang and Zhou Tai could not break into Guan Yu's circle, and were instead repeatedly countered, putting them in perilous situations.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Sun Ce hurriedly led Huang Gai and others to charge up, surrounding Guan Yu and covering Han Dang and Zhou Tai.
Guan Yu was not afraid at all, wielding his long blade with all his might. Even Sun Ce found it quite strenuous. However, they were determined to exhaust Guan Yu, after all, no matter how powerful the opponent was, he would eventually run out of strength!
Taishi Ci's expression was grave as he said to Yuan Xi, "This Guan Yunchang is much stronger than he was in Qingzhou!"
Yuan Xi's martial arts realm was not high enough, and he did not understand Taishi Ci's words. He casually asked, "How much stronger?"
Taishi Ci thought for a moment and said, "He's about as strong as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei combined were during the last battle in Qingzhou."
Yuan Xi was shocked and exclaimed, "No way, that powerful?"
He thought to himself, is Guan Yu cheating?
Can he even level up?
Taishi Ci said, "Zilong and I have also become stronger in the past year, but not as exaggerated as him. I don't know how he trains, maybe he has more experience fighting experts and has gained more insights than us, breaking through to a higher level."
Yuan Xi thought to himself, so the Liu, Guan, and Zhang he encountered in the past two years were not the complete versions?
Including Taishi Ci and Zhao Yun, everyone is still constantly improving, just like Han Dang and Zhou Tai who were just defeated. If they can return alive, they may also make a breakthrough, but the gap between people is gradually widening.
Taishi Ci raised his telescope and said, "But no matter how powerful he is alone, he can't withstand a war of attrition."
"Now Sun Ce's subordinates are taking turns in battle with a dozen or so people, it seems they are determined to exhaust Guan Yu, not giving him time to recover."
"What should we do?"
Yuan Xi said without hesitation, "It would be a pity if he died here."
"Please, brother Ziyi and brother Guorang, lead troops out of the city and rescue him with all your might."
Hearing this, Taishi Ci smiled slightly and cupped his hands, "Understood!"
Before long, Taishi Ci and Tian Yu led troops out of the city and went straight to Sun Ce's main formation, and the three sides instantly engaged in battle together.
Caught off guard, Sun Ce's army's flank was almost broken up, and he had to divide his forces to resist, gather the scattered soldiers, and retreat back to the camp while fighting.
Taishi Ci and Tian Yu took the opportunity to join forces with Guan Yu, and everyone returned to Guangling City together.
Yuan Xi stood at the city gate, welcoming Guan Yu off his horse and into the city. Seeing that there was still blood on the corner of Guan Yu's mouth, he bowed and said, "General is brave, I admire you."
He thought to himself, it's really a pity, it would be great if someone like Guan Yu could be used by me!
Guan Yu jumped off his horse and also cupped his hands in a salute: "I am ashamed, if not for the lord's rescue, Yu would have died in battle."
Yuan Xi was about to comfort Guan Yu that the other side had more people and it was not a glorious victory, when he suddenly remembered that he had done the same thing in Qingzhou, hadn't he?
He forced a smile and said, "General doesn't need to take it to heart. Now with the general's help, Guangling is even more worry-free. I think Sun Ce will retreat soon."
Guan Yu nodded slightly and said, "My lord asked Yu to bring a message, thanking you, lord, for your help."
"Yu has come this time to escort my lord's wife and daughters back to Haixi."
"Are they still in the city?"
Yuan Xi hurriedly said, "They are all being taken care of in the mansion, please come with me, General."
Before long, the group returned to the front of the mansion. Guan Yu dismounted alone and entered the door. Yuan Xi led him to the front of Liu Bei's wife's door.
Yuan Xi stepped forward and knocked on the door a few times, saying, "Is Madam there?"
A wary voice came from inside the door, "What is it?"
Yuan Xi thought to himself, they've been living here for several days, and they're still so defensive. He said helplessly, "Madam, General Yunchang has arrived."
With a creak, the door opened instantly, and Liu Bei's wife appeared at the door, saying, "Where is Guan Yu?"
Guan Yu hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Guan Yu greets my sister-in-law."
Seeing that it was indeed Guan Yu, Liu Bei's wife smiled and said, "It really is the general, I said you were more conscientious than him. I heard he has already married a young wife in Haixi?"
Guan Yu was sweating profusely and hurriedly said, "How could my elder brother forget my sister-in-law? This time, he sent Yu to come and take Madam and the young ladies back."
Liu Bei's wife sneered and said, "Then tell me, did he get married or not?"
Guan Yu didn't want to talk about Liu Bei's family affairs in front of outsiders, so he had to stammer, "My elder brother did not remarry, Madam, please don't listen to rumors."
Liu Bei's wife was about to speak when a girl's head popped out from behind her, calling out, "Uncle Guan."
Seeing her, Guan Yu hurriedly said, "Greetings, young lady."
Since entering Guangling City, this was the first time Yuan Xi had seen the true appearance of Liu Bei's daughter. Seeing that she was about ten years old, her eyebrows were the same as her mother's, also carrying a heroic spirit. Her features were quite upright, much better than her parents.
Liu Bei's daughter was also holding a five- or six-year-old girl's hand, with snot bubbles, foolishly reaching out to Guan Yu and saying, "Uncle, hug."
Yuan Xi thought to himself, so these are Liu Bei's two daughters.
He was staring at the two girls when he was noticed by Liu Bei's wife, who hurriedly blocked the two girls behind her, vigilantly saying, "What do you want to do?"
Yuan Xi thought to himself, am I that scary?
When he looked at Guan Yu, he found a flash of killing intent in the other's eyes, and he quickly waved his hand and said, "I didn't do anything!"
Guan Yu was dubious, until Liu Bei's wife opened her mouth and said, "He did indeed do something."
Guan Yu's eyes shone with even more cold light, and he reached out to touch the knife at his waist. Seeing this, Sun Li hurriedly stood in front of Yuan Xi.
Yuan Xi thought to himself, you b*tch, are you trying to cross the river and tear down the bridge?
As a result, Liu Bei's wife continued, "The young master saved the three of us, mother and daughters, how can you say he didn't do anything?"
Only then did Guan Yu put his hand down.
Yuan Xi thought to himself, you b*tch, couldn't you have said everything in one breath?
What if Guan Yu really lost his temper and started fighting?
I was scared out of my wits!
Guan Yu turned to Yuan Xi, forcing a smile, "Thank you, lord."
Yuan Xi laughed awkwardly, "You're welcome, you're welcome."
Just don't scare me like that, just now with that glare, I was so scared that I lost several years of my life!
The meeting between the two sides ended in this friendly and peaceful atmosphere. Guan Yu also went to see Kong Rong's family, agreeing to escort everyone back to Haixi as soon as Sun Ce retreated.
After Guan Yu left, Sun Li said triumphantly to Taishi Ci, "How was it, big brother, was my reaction quick just now?"
Hearing this, Taishi Ci said lightly, "Your movements were indeed fast, but you have to distinguish what is true killing intent."
"Someone like Guan Yunchang, how could he act in such a situation?"
Hearing this, Sun Li's face fell.
Taishi Ci said, "If you can't do this one day, you can't become a real expert, and in the end you can only be like the young master."
Yuan Xi, who was happily watching the show next to him, had a stiff expression. I know my martial arts are not good, but Ziyi, is it okay for you to say it so publicly?
Don't I have any face?